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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

This is a photo I took last night for my 365 self photo project. It's the first real snow fall in Pickering this winter. It was the wet heavy type and we did not get much more than what you see here. The only problem is that over night there was a flash freeze and everything is froze solid. This is a retired bus driver's dream. I don't have to go out and drive in this stuff. In fact I don't even have to go outside if I don't want to.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I was out last night with the intent to photograph some Christmas lights. I arrived before dark and while waiting for the lights to be turned on, I heard sirens in the distance and noticed a large billow of smoke rising into the sky. I went back into my car and headed towards the smoke. Upon my arrival, the fire department were already on scene. The street was filled with smoke.

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There were no restrictions setup for pedestrians, so I move in closer to the house fire.

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On the outside there were no flames to be seen but there was plenty of smoke rising from the house.

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The City Of Pickering fire department is comprised of full time and volunteer firefighters.

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The was no shortage of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or police. I did not see any injuries. Residents were taken to the house across the road for shelter.

Friday, December 09, 2011

On a trip to Halifax I stopped in a pub for something to eat. (Wink, wink.) Feeling the urge to use the restroom and upon entering I came across this scene above the urinals. I just had to have a photo of this but my camera was back at my table. I returned to fetch it. After taking the photo I began to wonder what people were thinking when they saw me entering the restroom with my camera. What would you have thought?

Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Trick photography at work. Using a tripod and a shutter speed of 8 seconds. I started with the barbecue's lid open. Halfway through the exposure close the lid. Pretty simple way to have fun with your photos.

Monday, December 05, 2011

Halifax, Nova Scotia Cultural Affairs offered the Traffic Box Program yearly from 2008 through 2010, with the support of Transportation and Public Works. A diversity of local artists were selected each year through a jury process to paint murals on the newly created or replaced traffic boxes found at intersections. The boxes are located in highly visible locations both to pedestrians and road traffic. The program has expanded to other types of utility boxes.

Goals:

provide opportunities for artists to be creative, connect with their community and heighten community identity through beautification

reduce graffiti vandalism

provide employment opportunities for emerging and established local artists

provide opportunity to paint outside and use an alternative form of "canvas"

to spark interest and dialogue around new diverse forms of mural painting

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Yesterday the first snow of the season fell in my neighborhood. It was large wet flakes that were falling. Shortly after I took this photo it stopped snowing and sun came out. Within a couple hours the snow melted and was gone.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Artist: Javid Alibhai artist/mentor. Artists: Leo Lam; Juhyun (Jane) Oh; Faith Webster; Anthony Jamez (aj) Monohan. The father holding up the child is symbolic of the will of every parent for their child, to succeed in life. The kingdom in the sky represents an ideal, mystical dwelling for the family and their offspring to live in. The lion is the all-seeing guardian of this paradise. This lion symbolizes the beautiful struggle of surviving to achieve the goals we set out for ourselves. The naturalistic scene of the far-left side and the animals throughout were added for the many children in the community and to enhance the family-oriented feeling of the piece. This imaginative mural, merging Mother Nature and the magical kingdom of the sky was the inspiration for the title of the mural Natural Mystic, which is a classic Bob Marley song that has touched the hearts of young and old worldwide. You can view more murals here and here.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Artist: John Hood. Date: September 1990. In 1862 the Scarborough Rifle Company was organized with headquarters in a school at Eglinton Avenue near Markham Road. It was the first of several militia companies formed in York County. The company was rushed to the Niagara Frontier three times in 1865 and 1866 to defend Canada against the Fenians. The Scarborough Rifle Company later became No. 1 Company of the 12th Battalion of Infantry, the forerunner of the Queen's York Rangers

Friday, November 04, 2011

This grand old oak tree is another one that I have admired. I think I have driven my bus past it a zillion times. I have tried to photograph it in the past but I was never satisfied with the results. Along with "My Old Tree Number One" I will be keeping track of it as it passes through the seasons.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Artist: Phillip Woolf. Built in 1926 and rebuilt in 1947, the garage was located on the south side of Kingston Road in Cliffside Village. Owner Art Spooner kept the business alive during the Depression of the 1930's by offering a variety of services such as driving lessons, a restaurant and a 24-hour towing service. The price of gasoline showing on the pump is 33 cent per imperial gallon.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Cows is a small Canadian business of ice cream shops. There are only ten locations including the factory and store in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Also known for their humours t-shirts sold in the stores or online. I should also mention that ice cream is my weakness. I'd do anything (almost) for ice cream. :-$

Sheep herders are using llamas to fend off wolves and coyotes. The llama will scream, stamp, and kick with their feet. They are capable of stomping a coyote to death if the coyote refuses to retreat. Under attack sheep and lambs will gather into a tight circle. Llamas will stay on the outside of the circle and chase off the intruder.